The Procedure & The Hospitals

Professor Malata performs all cosmetic surgery operations as well as most reconstructive plastic surgery procedures at the Spire Cambridge Lea, the Nuffield Health Cambridge and the Peterborough Fitzwilliam Hospitals. He also regularly undertakes major reconstructive microvascular breast surgery privately at Addenbrooke's University Hospital, Cambridge.

The operations are carried out at the three private hospitals during weekdays and alternate Saturdays for your convenience. Private operating at Addenbrooke’s Hospital is on a Saturday or Sunday.

Following surgery patients are assured of 24 hour care from Professor Malata, the Anaesthetist and Nursing team (link to team). In this regard after your consultation Professor Malata will give you his 24-hour emergency contact phone number. His philosophy is to ensure that patients are well informed and receive safe, effective and expert treatment and he will make every effort to ensure that they feel secure and supported.

On the day of surgery

On the day of surgery, the nurses will receive you onto the ward 2 hours before your operation, carefully record your base-line observations and assist you in preparing for surgery. Professor Malata will make a final review of your surgery with you, take consent and mark you up precisely for the planned surgery. This will also provide you with an opportunity to ask any last minute questions or make minor adjustments to your planned surgery. If you are having a general anaesthetic, you will also meet the consultant anaesthetist, who will discuss the anaesthetic with you and ensure that you are fit enough for the procedure.

When it is time for your surgery, the nurses will accompany you to the operating theatre. After the surgery, and once you are safely recovered, the same nurse will collect you and escort you back to your room on the ward.

What to bring into hospital

All the rooms at the three hospitals have en-suite bathrooms. You will be provided with towels and basic toiletries. We encourage you to bring with you items for oral hygiene and any special lotions that you need or indeed anything to make your stay in hospital more comfortable. Please bring some easy reading material with you whilst you wait for your surgery. Televisions are provided in each room. A letter will be sent out to you by the hospital detailing this or the information will be made available to you at Pre-admission if this is deemed necessary. For further information please feel free to contact my secretary, Glenys, on 01223 573 715.

The Anaesthetic

Your Anaesthetist

In Cambridge Dr. Andrew Bailey FRCA is the consultant anaesthetist who works with Professor Malata. He holds consultant anaesthetist posts at the Spire Cambridge Lea, Hospital, The Cambridge Nuffield Hospital and Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge and is also a member of the Court of Examiners of the Royal College of Anaesthetists. Dr Bailey is a senior anaesthetist with many years of experience in anaesthesia for cosmetic and plastic surgery and major reconstructive surgery. He is currently the head of anaesthesia at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Before the anaesthetic

You will have been asked not to eat or drink milky drinks for six hours prior to your surgery. You will be allowed to drink clear fluids up to four hours prior to your surgery. It is very important for your safety during the anaesthesia that you religiously follow this advice. If you are on regular medication you should take it as normal with a small sip of water. Do not take any antibiotics on the day of your surgery.

The anaesthetist will come and see you on the ward after you have been admitted for surgery. He will ensure that you are fit for anaesthetic. At this point you will be able to ask any questions or voice any concerns that you may have.

When the surgeon and the anaesthetist are ready for you to go to the operating theatre, they will call the ward and a nurse will take you to the anaesthetic room that is linked to the operating theatre.

The Anaesthetic

The anaesthetic nurse or operating theatre practitioner will check you in and the consultant anaesthetist will be present. The anaesthetist will normally administer the anaesthetic via a small injection into your hand. Within a few seconds you will feel drowsy and then become unconscious. Most people consider this to be a warm and pleasant feeling.

The anaesthetist will be with you at all times during the surgery, monitoring the anaesthetic as well as your breathing, heart and circulation throughout the operation. When the operation is over you will wake up in the recovery room, where specialist nurses will care for you until you are ready to return to the ward.

After-Care

This section provides you with information about what happens after your surgery.

Please be assured of our commitment to your care, safety and wellbeing before and after surgery which remains of utmost concern to Professor Malata and the Team.

Following surgery, patients are assured of 24-hour post-operative care and support, 7 days a week by Professor Malata and the “Team”. Patients are also given Professor Malata’s 24-hour emergency contact phone number. This level of service and commitment is part of Professor Malata’s philosophy which is to ensure that patients remain supported, well informed and receive safe, effective and expert treatment at all times.

While you are in hospital, Professor Malata will visit you daily to assess your post-operative progress. When you go home, our Specialist Cosmetic Surgery Nurse will telephone you the next day to ensure that everything is going to plan and you are fully informed of your follow-up care and visits. Professor Malata likes to keep in close contact and encourages you to telephone our Nurses if you are worried about anything at any stage. For emergencies while at home, please do not hesitate to call Professor Malata on the direct 24-hour emergency telephone number given to you in clinic.

He will see you routinely at least three times after surgery: at approximately 5 – 14 days, 4 – 6 weeks, 3 - 6 months (and if needed at one year). You are welcome to see Professor Malata or our nurses at any other time at no extra cost to you. All this comprehensive after-care and follow-up is included in the cost of your surgery.

Advice For Existing Patients

Out of Office Hours:

If you have any concerns after your surgery out of office hours, please call Professor Malata directly or the phone number of the ward at the hospital where you were treated. The hospitals will give you advice or ask Professor Malata to call you back directly.

Professor Malata’s 24-hour Emergency Contact Number: given to you at the consultation.

Fitzwilliam Hospital: 01733 261 717

Nuffield Health Cambridge Hospital: 01223 303 336

Spire Cambridge Lea: 01223 266 900

During Office Hours:

If you have any questions, concerns or anxieties please do not hesitate to contact Professor Malata’s secretary on 01223 573 715 or on Professor Malata’s 24-hour Emergency contact number.

Main things to cause concern post-operatively:

High temperature above 37.5degrees Celsius.

If a wound looks very red or is hot to touch.

If any area swells excessively or is very painful.

Feeling unwell in yourself, including vomiting or gastrointestinal upset

The dressings develop an offensive smell or start to come off.

Excessive oozing or leakage from the wound.

Information Sheets for Specific Procedures:

Detailed postoperative instructions for each operation will have been given to you at the time of consultation. If you did not receive one or have misplaced yours please contact Professor Malata’s secretary on 01223 573 715 to send you one by post or by email or fax ( glenys.secretary@ntlworld.com<).